Fluid lift



Oct. l, 1929. c, w, FQSTR v 1,730, 321

` FLUID LIFT Filed Feb. 2, 1928 v ,NNY

Clnuas F5372@ Patented Get. 1, 1929 y. y I Maasai! CLAUDE W. FOSTER, VOF BRAIQFORD, PENNSYLVANIA, .ASSIGNR TO NATURAL FLUID LIFT COMPANY, OF BRADFGRD, PENNSYLVANIA; .A COPAR'INERSIIIP.

FLUID LIFTv 'Ihis invention relates lto a iuid lift and it is an object of the invention to provide a mechanism for this purpose wherein is eliminated the use of heavy tubing rods, working barrels, heavy pull lines and the like and thus obviating the expense of installation and maintenance of equipment of such kind.

It is also an object of the invention to provide a lift embodying an endless member extending downwardly a requisite distance of the bore and which member is constructed in a manner to provide a plurality of buckets whereby the fluid, upon requisite travel of the endless member, is lifted to the surface.

Another object of the invention is to provide a mechanism ,of this kind wherein the lifting member initially discharges `within an enclosed tank and which is of particular advantage when the lift is employed in connection with an oil well, said tank serving to confine the gas and thereby maintaining the well from drying out and paraflining up.

The invention consists in the details of construction and in the combination and arrangement ofthe several parts of my improved fiuid lift whereby certain important advantages are attained and the device rendered simpler, less expensive and otherwise more lconvenient and advantageous for use, as will be hereinafter more fully set` forth.

The novel features of'my invention will hereinafter be definitely claimed.

In order that my invention may be the better understood, I will now proceed to describe the same with reference to the accompanying drawing, wherein Figure l is a view'partly in section and partly in elevation illustrating a fluid lift constructed in accordance with an embodiment of my invention and in applied assembly; Figure 2 is a fragmentary elevational view of the endless liftingmember;

Figure 3 is a sectional view taken substantially on the line 3 3 of Figure 2;

Figure 4 is a sectional view taken substantially on the line 4 4. of Figure 2.

As disclosed in the accompanying drawing, B denotes a bore drilled to requisite depth and which has arranged inits upper portion onlyV a desired'length'of tubing T. The casing'T, as herein disclosed, is operatively en- 'i gaged with the wellhead l which constitutes the bottom of an enclosed tankA. The walls of this tank 'A including the head l may be l made ofl any material which is -believed to best comply with the requirements of practice.V Y f In communication 'with the tank A through the top wall 2'thereof is a gas line 3 and also in communication with the tank A through a side wall 4.-"thereof and' preferablyimmediately adjacent to the head lis a fluid carryolifline 5.y Thevcasing lTex'tends a desired distance. above the :head l, as herein dis* closed, 'and threaded or otherwise connected to such projected portion of thetubing is an upstanding sleeve 6 of desired length. This sleeve 6 at substantially .diametrically opposed points is provided Vwtih the brackets 7 rotatably carrying the tension rollers 8 for' the endless liftingmembei` M. l

The member M,y as herein disclosed, comprises two endless strips 9 of belting maintained in desired spaced relation by' the ,in-

Il are divided intoa plurality of successively.

arranged buckets.

The outermost stripor Abelting 9 hasv disposed along its longitudinal or side marginal portion the Vstrips 12 which have direct conftact with the tension rollers Sand thus preventing such rollers from exerting* undue pressure on the bucketsor imposingundue wear or tearing action upon the ,outer strip or beltin'g 9. ,o Y

Each of the buckets formedin .the member M at one end is provided with atransversely `disposed opening 14 affording access .to the associated bucket whereby as'such bucket is passing through vthe fluid in.k the-bore B the 4same will readily lill and as the bucket is ter-posed endless strips l0 arranged at the y turned lover Vabove the ground surface, the

a roller or drum of desired diameter rotatably supported by opposed side walls of the tank A and at a desired point above the sleeve 6. Stretches of the endless member eX- tend downwardly through the applied casing T to the lower portion of the bore B. The

-lower portion offthe member M passes un der a pulley 16 rotatably supported by a yoke 17 straddling the lower portion ofthe mem;

ber M' from below andfdepending therefrom.

The lower portion V-ofatheyoke '17 carries a weighted member 18 whereby requisite strain is imposed upon the stretches of the applied member M to assure the requisite travel thereof with respect tothe fluid within ,the

borre B anda-lso tomaintain said member M 'in desired tractive or frictional engagement vwith the roller:V 15.

i The rollerl 'may be driven in any desired manner but, as herein disclosed, is shown as being in driven connection through the medium of the belt 19 with an engine E which may be of an electrical explosive type or otherwise as.v preferred. Thisk roller 15 is fitted on'a shaftllwhich projects exteriorly ofthe tank A, the belt 19 being operatively engaged. with' said shaft eXteriorly of the tank AL l It is to benoted that'the upwardly traveling stretch ofthe applied member M has the openings 14 in communication with the upper portion ofthe buckets so that the fluid fwithinthe lower portion ofthe bore B`will be readily carried upwardly and, as such buckets pass around the roller 15:7 the same will readily discharge within theta-nk A and the fluid ofthe convenience and facility with which itV may be assembled'and operated, and it will alsobe obvious that my' invention isA suscepti-V ble of some lchangeand modification without departing:` from the' principles and spirit thereof and'for this reason I donot wish to be understoodas limiting myself to theprecis'e arrangementand formation of the several parts herein shown in carrying out my invention in p racticeexcept as hereinafter claimed. I claim z-f A lluid lift'comprising an 'endless member consisting. oftwo endless strips, second endless strips interposed between the 'side longitudinal portions offthe first named. strips to maintain saidl'first'strips in spaced relation additional ystrips interposed betweenV the Y first namedstrips and bridging the space between the second named strips, said last named strips dividing the space between the first named strips into a plurality of buckets, one of the first named strips having openings, each of said openings being in communication with an end portion of a bucket.

In testimony whereofl hereunto allix my I signature.

lCLAUDE V. FOSTER. L 

